Display device



Oct. 21, 1941. E. WAGNER DISPLAY DEVICE Filed July 27, 1939 ATTORNEYS. m

Patented Oct. 21; 1941 DISPLAY DEVICE- Erwin Wagner, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Wagner Sign Service, Incorporated, Chicago, Ill.,

poration of Illinois Application July 27, 1939, Serial No, 2 86 ,821

Claims.

My present invention relates generally to display devices designed to display characters so as to form a, messa e against a display surface, wherein each character is provided with means for looking it in fixed relation on its associated carrier or support, and is particularly concerned with a new structure of a character and new mounting means therefor,

In the United States Patent No. 2,193,502, issued March 12, 1940, are shown characters provided with individual locking means whereby each character can be locked in place on its carrier. Similar locking means are employed in conjunction with the characters and may also be used with the carriers disclosed in the present application. The locking action obtained by the present structure, however, is different. The features and objects of the instant invention are briefly outlined below.

Previously disclosed structures of this type are more or less bound tothe use of display boxes either with or Without display panels and the like, although they are not absolutely restricted thereto; the present structure permits the dis!- play of the characters in any desired way, even on ordinary walls, and in any desired directional arrangement, that is, a display wherein the characters may be arranged in front of a display surface either horizontally, vertically, or at an angle.

The new supports or carriers for the characters are made of channel members which yield to the pressure exerted by the lock of a character, thus supporting and assisting the locking action in a definite manner.

Characters or letters previously known were supported on a plurality of carrier means, for example, rods, ledge members or channel members. The new character is supported on a single carrier, being the channel member noted in the preceding paragraph,

Each character is provided with a set of apertures or cutouts extending across the back of the character constituting, in a sense, a groove for receiving the new carrier means.

The apertures or cutouts for receiving the new channel carrier member are shaped so that the spring action of the legs of the channel carrier which occurs in response to the actuation of the locking means causes an alignment of the characterwith respect to the carrier and to theplane of the display surface positioning the character substantially parallel with the display surface In a certain embodiment the channel carrier itself is provided with locking means at its ends,

which secures it removably in place on or in front of the display surface.

The terms"characters or letters, or squire-- lent expressions as used herein, are intended to. mean any structure or object used for display against a display surface includingletters, fig: ures, signs or combinations t er of formin a dew sired message.

Certain embod me ts and features, in ludin those briefly outlined above, will now be described in detail w th. ref r nc o the drawin wherein-e Fig. 1 is a partial view of a sign made in acance wit the nventi n, w th s me arts r oved or broken away to nd a e detaus more cl arl f I F s- 2 ep esents a ar ial rear ers t ve view of one embodim n o h new character;

i trates a secti n thr u h h n w r c er a d its m un ing si ns th line 3.3 shown in Figs, 1 and l e 4 s ws t e n w charac r from. h rear (it being assumed that t e charact ris the n Fig. n m u ted Position, lso show n the ki ea s and the member fl sh the character is mounted;

' s- 5 l st at s a m dified charact r insid v i n and eresesec sn, res ectively onf rming enerally to th show n c F 3; and

Fig 6, nd 7 a e views s owin how henew carrier. or mo nti mea v er t e cha act s y be s ated o the dis lay tructur Like par a e s nated by l ke refe ence i morals throughoutthc drawing. .Details. that may be-assumed. to be well. 'lgnown will be discussed in t e c lowis description on y to the extent necessary for understanding the invention,

Numeral I I, Fig, 1 indicates generally a display box having a bacl; wall L2, top and bottom walls I3 and M; respect vely, and striprlike mar: ginal members I5, 16, 11 forming the face .of the display box I l and defining a frontal opening for receiving a glass. display panel I 8. Illuminating meansrnay be disposed withinthe box comprisi s, for examp e, bra k ke members such as 45, 46 holding lamps indicated at 47, 48. The brackets 4.5, 46 may be suitably formed strips fastened to the back wall l2 of the box and extending. horizontally within the box behind the glass panel l3, Each strip has a raised central portion on which thelamps are mounted in suitable sockets, only one lamp is shown on each of these strips, but. itlis understood that several such lamps are provided as desired or necessary. This part of the structure does not form an cs-' i al a t O h invention and; therei r, any

suitable means for providing the desired internal illumination of the display panel may be substituted. The marginal portions [5, l6, l1 may be made in the form of channels or simple ledges, depending on the means employed for mounting the glass display panel, which may be provided in one piece or in several sections, depending on the size of the sign. The display box may be provided with a single display opening such as shown in Fig. 1, or with a plurality of superimposed display openings.

Attached to the display box in any suitable manner are the channel-shaped carrier members 2B and 2 I, which form parallel lines in front of the display panel [8 for receiving the characters for display against the panel as shown in the drawing. The carriers are attached so that their open channels face the display surface. Each letter is supported by a single carrier in this embodiment and, if desired, more carriers may be used for support.

These carrier members may be attached in any desired manner and are secured in the example shown, at their ends to the corresponding marginal portions of the sign, for examp to the 1- portion l6 and to the corresponding portion at the other or right hand end of the sign (not shown). Any desired fastening means such as screws, nuts and bolts or the like may be employed for attachment of the carrier. the attachment may also be made in the manner indicated in Figs. 6 and '7. Fig. 6 is a view of the ledge l6 from the rear, that is, looking out from the inside of the sign to the outside.

attached, for example, by welding, to the end of the channel carrier 20. The ledge I6 is provided on the inside with a strip 24, extending However, 1

modating letters of different sizes. It is thus possible to change the sign easily by using channel carriers forming as many display lines for receiving characters as may be desired in view of the maximum or minimum size of the letters and the size of the display surface.

The letters or characters are of the flange type; that is, each letter may be channel-shaped in cross-section with marginal or peripheral flanges, such as [9 and 2| indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, extending rearwardly from the face thereof. The flanges are provided with cutouts, also indicated in these figures, for receiving the channel carrier 25. Each letter is equipped with a lock comprising a cam member 32 which is on a rotatable shaft 33, the shaft being provided with a polygonal bore 34 for rotating the cam. A washer 35 maintains the position of the cam in this assemblage. The roof or upper edge 36 of the cutout in the flanges I9 and 3i of the letter and, of course, in the similar cutouts in the adjacent flange portions is inclined inwardly, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, tending to restrict the opening, for gripping the upper leg of the channel member in response to the actuation of the locking cam 32 acting upon the lower leg, thus compressing the channel member slightly, as shown greatly exaggerated in the drawing.

2 The actual deformation that will occur in prac- A 7 plate 22 having a hook-like extension 23 may be vertically, as indicated, forming a number of loops or pockets such as 25. Several such pockets may be provided, either evenly spaced 'or differently spaced from each other to form attachment means at levels or places where it is desired to dispose carrier members. 24is shown, namely, the part which forms the pocket 25, the continuation of the strip upwardly and downwardly being indicated by the broken lines. It will be understood, however, that the strip may extend alongside and with the ledge 16 on which it is'provided. For mounting the channel carrier, it is merely necessary to insert its hook-like portions such as 23 in the corresponding pockets such as 25 on the strips provided on the ledge l6 and on the opposite ledge of the sign on the right hand end of the sign. In order to provide for a look, I dispose within the channel member 29 at its end a cam-like latch 26 which is mounted on a suitable shaft and rotatably attached to the base of the channel member 2|]. The'shaft may be provided with a polygonal boring 2'! for rotation by means of a simple key. After hooking the extensions 23 into the proper pockets the cam members are Only part of the strip actuatedinto the position shown in Figs. 6 and '7, thereby engaging the inside edges of the corresponding ledge members such as IS on the signand locking the carrier in place against unauthorized removal'or displacement. The upper leg 28 of the channel carrier 20 may be cut out as indicated at 29 so as to accommodate the cam latch member 25.) The provision of a plurality of such pockets 25 on the mounting strips 24 permits selective placement of the carrier members 2l!2| so as to form lines which are more or less spaced from each other for accom- 7 tice will be very slight. Attention is called to the fact that solid carrier members may be used in place of the channel carriers. The resilient locking action is then transferred practically wholly to the jaws forming the cutout in the letter. A similar action would occur if the channel carrier were disposed with the open channel facing outwardly instead of inwardly as shown. As a result of this action responsive to the locking operation of the cam, the carrier member will tend to move toward the base of the cutout and the letter or character will be aligned correspondingly and will assume a position substantially parallel with the display surface. The cutout in the drawing Fig. 3 (and also the corresponding cutout in the embodiment shown in Fig. 5) is shown larger than the carrier member inserted therein. This showing is mainly for the purpose of representation; it is clear that the cutout is in practice in any case of a desired size so as to accommodate the carrier member in any required manner. The rim of the cam 32 is shown slightly conical, but may be made cylindrical, or-nearly cylindrical, if desired. I

A somewhat different structure is indicated in Fig. 5 which corresponds generally to the showing of Fig. 3 with the panel l8 omitted. The top edge or roof 35' of the cutout in the flanges of the letter is again inclined at an angle, but is provided with an overhanging lip or extension it], and the cam 32 is provided with a raised edge portion M. The letter is again mounted by inserting the channel carrier 20' in the cutout and then rotating the cam 32' by means of a key inserted in the polygonal opening 34' in the shaft 33'. The edges of the channel member 20' will then be accommodated within the cutout and will be held therein in a definite position with the upper leg of the channel member engaging the back of the overhanging portion- 40 of the cutout and with the lower leg definitely gripped by the raised portionof the cam 32. The alignment previously noted with respect to positioning the letter in parallel with the glass panel is again obtained. Remarks made previously as to representation of this embodiment and alterations that may be made also applyin this case. For ordinary purposes it will be sufficient to provide for a structure such as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, with such modifications withrespect to the size'of the cutout, th exact shape of the cam, or'type and placement of the carrier member as may be desired or required in any given case.

It should be observed that theset of cutouts constitutes a groove disposed in back of the face of the letter; the side walls of this groove are interrupted, that is, they are not continuous throughout the length or width of the letter. A true continuous groove could be formed in a solid letter instead of using the channel structure described herein, andthe advantages of the invention would be fully preserved. Another feature that should'be noted isthat the carrier member is located within the groove or cutout for the entire extent of' the cross section. The legs of the channel carrier are somewhat resilient and yield to the compression of the cam, and this action tends to move the base of th 'channel member into alignment with the base of the groove or cutout, thus aligning the letter with respect to thedisplay surface; 1 The action is reversed in case of using asolid carrier; that is, the edges of the cutout would act somewhat resiliently on the carrier. It is understoodthat the force to be applied isin any case relatively small, as it is merely required to hold the letter in place against unauthorized removal. The inclined upper edges of the cutouts may be considered to constitute jaws projecting from the back of the character and forming with the cam member an opening forreceiving the carrier member. The opening may be locked by the operation of the cam memben.

The use of this new letter and new mounting means is not restricted to display boxes such as described above or to display, .against illuminated panels or the like; nor is the use of this letter restricted to mounting along horizontal lines. The channel carriers may be secured in vertical position, even at an angle, and the cutouts in the letters may be disposed accordingly, so as to spell out the message, which it is desired to display, either from top to bottom, or vice versa, or horizontally as shown, or, if desired, at an angle. The new sign in this respect is extremely versatile and flexible.

The views shown in the figures are not drawn to scale, but with the dimensions of various details somewhat distorted, because, if drawn to scale, the representation would be diificult and would obscure the understanding.

I have shown and described specific embodiments of the invention in order to indicate how the same may be used in practice. Changes are, of course, possible and can be made within the scope and spirit of the appended claims in which I have defined what is considered new and what is desired to have protected by Letters Patent of the United States.

I claim as my invention:

1. A display device comprising a channelshaped carrier member, means for mounting said member in front of 'a display surface and substantially in parallel thereto, a character having a frontal face and marginalflanges rearwardly extending therefrom, notches in said flanges for receiving the carrier member in its entire crosssectional extent, identical edges of said notches being inclined to form a restricted opening for said carrier member and to engage one leg thereof, and a cam member disposed in back of the face of said character for locking engagement with the other leg of said carrier member, said locking engagement resiliently compressing the legs of said channel-shaped carrier and forcing the base thereof into alignment with the base of said notches.

2. A display device comprising a channelshaped carrier member, means for mounting said member in front of a display surface substantially in parallel thereto and with the open channel thereof facing said surface, a character having a frontal face and marginal flanges extending rearwardly therefrom, a single set of notches in said flanges for receiving said carrier member in its entire cross-sectional extent, identical edges of said notches being inclined inwardly to engage one leg of said channel carrier member near and at the edge thereof, and a cam member disposed in said character in back of the face thereof for locking engagement with the other leg of said carrier member, said locking engagement resiliently compressing the legs of said channels'haped carrier and tending to force the base thereof into engagement and alignment with the base of said notches to hold said character in position on said carrier member and substantially in parallel alignment with the plane of said'display surface.

3. A display device comprising a channelshaped carrier member, means for removably mounting said member in front of a display surface substantially in parallel thereto and with the open channel thereof facing said surface, means at the ends of said carrier member for locking the same on said mounting means, a character having a frontal face and marginal flanges extending rearwardly therefrom, a singl set of notches in said flanges for receiving said carrier member in its entire cross-sectional extent, identical edges of said notches being inclined inwardly to engage one leg of said channel carrier member :near and at the edge thereof, and a cam member disposed in said character in back of the face thereof for locking engagement with the other leg of said carrier member, said locking engagement resiliently compressing the legs of said channel-shaped carrier and tending to force the base thereof into engagement and alignment with the base of said notches to hold said character in position on said carrier member and substantially in parallel alignment with the plane of said display surface.

4. In combination, a character having a frontal face and peripheral flanges extending rearwardly therefrom, a single set of notches in said flanges being disposed along a single line extending across the back of said character, the base of said notches extending substantially in parallel with the plane of said frontal face, identical edges of said notches being inclined inwardly tending to form restricted openings, a single channel-shaped carrier member disposed within said notches with the outside surface of its base adjacent the bases thereof, and a locking cam disposed in back of said character and operable from thefront thereof, the rim of said cam being inclined to engage one leg of said channel carrier near the edge thereof when said cam is actuated into locking position, thereby forcing the opposite leg into engagement with said inclined edges of said notches to lock the character on said carrier and to hold it against displacement with the bases of said notche substantially aligned with the bases of the carrier member.

'5. A character for display against a display surface, a single carrier member disposed in front of said surface and substantially parallel thereto,

andm'eans for securing said character on said' carrier, comprising a plurality of inclined jaws projecting from the back of said'character, a single rotatable cam member disposed-in back of said character opposite said jaWs and intermediate thereof, the rim of said cam member being inclined in the direction of said jaws and forming therewith an opening for receiving said carrier, and means for rotating said cam member to lock said opening With the carrier disposed therein.

6. In combination, a character for display against a display surface, a single channelshaped carrier member disposed in front of said surface, a single set of cutouts in said character simulating a groove with interrupted side walls extending in back of the face thereof for receiving said carrier member, and cam means in said character operable from the face thereof for resiliently compressing the legs of said channel carrier within said cutouts to lock said character in place and to align the same substantially in parallel with said display surface.

7. In combination, a character for display against a display surface comprising a generally channel-shaped body having a frontal face and marginal flanges extending rearwardly therefrom, a single channel-shaped carrier member for disposal in front of said display surface and substantially parallel thereto, notches in said flanges of said character simulating a groove having interrupted side walls extendingin back of the face of said character for receiving said carrier member, and locking means in said character disposed intermediate oppositely located notches of said groove for resiliently compressing the legs of said channel-shaped carrier with. respect to said notches to align said character on said carrier and to lock the same in place;

8. The combination and structure recited in claim 7, wherein said locking means is a rotatable cam member disposed within said character in back of the face thereof for displacement toward and into the plane of the edges of said notches nearest the cam, and wherein the opposite edges of the notches are inclined in the direction of said cam member, one leg of said channel-shaped carrier being subjected to spot pressure against said inclined edges of the notches and the other leg being subjected to pressure exerted by said movable cam member. A

9. In combination, a character for display against a display surface comprising a body which is generally channel-shaped in cross-section having a, frontal face and marginal flanges extending rearwardly therefrom, a carrier member for disposal in front of said display surface and substantially parallel thereto, notches in the flanges of said character simulating a groove extending rearward from the front face thereof for receiving said carrier member, locking means in said character disposed in back of the face thereof intermediate oppositely located notches of said groove for exerting spot pressure on said carrier member at one side thereof, forcing a. plurality of identically located edges of said notches into counter'pressure engagement with the opposite side of the carrier member to align said character on said carrier and to lock the same in place, and means on the outside of said character for actuating said locking means.

10. The combination and structure defined in claim 9, wherein said locking means is a rotatable cam member disposed within said character in back of the face thereof for displacement toward and into the plane of the edges of the notches nearest the cam, the opposite edges of the notches being inclined in the direction of said cam so as to engage the 'carrier member on one sid responsive to spot pressure exerted thereon by said cam on the other side thereof.

ERWIN WAGNER. 

